Hi, Trippers! This week we’ll go very very far away from here … before we start I would like to thank you again for your welcome, the blog is receiving visits not only in Spain but in England, France, Scotland and even the US ! This makes us increasingly global and challenges me to improve every day the posts!

Today we travel to a destination for which I confess a fondness … I love being able to show a little more of me on every trip that I share with you, and as you will be discovering the blog , Asia is my favorite continent. Southeast Asia holds me an attraction and magnetism have not been able to find anywhere else , and I hope to be able to convey all this magic through these lines.

I will never forget that scene from Indochina movie film … It struck me that this natural framework so unique , temples and palaces, the boats plying the waters between the mists … I knew that one of my big goals would be to discover this incredible place.

Indonesia , Thailand , Vietnam , Cambodia , Myanmar, Philippines … we will gradually revealing the charm of each one because this blog was born in Asia ( more specifically in Phuket , Thailand) in 2010 … even then it was not fully aware of it was there that I discovered my tripper soul , and after five years TrippingBites could finally come out 🙂

So… our weekly trip takes us to the ancient Siam , today known as Thailand, “Land of Smiles”

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that has not been colonized by any European power , although Western influences had led reforms such as the transfer of three provinces that are now part of Malaysia for British commercial interests . Today has its ” Seven Wonders “, among which are its beaches , cuisine and culture , which are indisputable drivers to visit the country.

The highlight of Thailand is its people. Always friendly, smiling and ready to help. The first thing you see when you arrive in Thailand is their smiling and polite greeting . Every culture has its own way of expressing gratitude , a characteristic way of show respect. For Thais is the Wai: clasping his hands and slightly tilted their head .

Our first stop : BANGKOK, the capital. A city that never sleeps with capacity to generate love and hate in equal measure. “The City of Angels” ( translation of its name in Thai ) has a population of over 8 million inhabitants of whom 90% are Buddhists.

A flight to Bangkok , if you search for it with enough time, can be affordable. Direct flights with Thai Airways can cost around € 600-700 and the overall flight time from Madrid is 11h . There is always a cheaper option is to scale , Liligo or Skyscanner allows you to activate an alert in prices that allow you to monitor flights and to choose the cheapest option . Once at SuvarnabhumiAirport will be very easy to get to downtown or take any other domestic flight to anywhere in Thailand: Chiang Mai , Chiang Rai , Krabi or Phuket (http://www.airasia.com)

The first impact of Bangkok is madness : chaos , traffic, massage stalls , street food stalls , thousands of people walking from one place to another and also a skytrain ! Take some time to get used to the hustle and get ready to open yourself to discover the less obvious and overwhelming charms of the city ! Bangkok is best considered as a set of separate districts , each with its own identity and atmosphere , as in which contradictory patchwork: modern and old, big and small, wealth and poverty … are interspersed without generating too haphazardly resulted in this great metropolis.

What to do in Bangkok? It’s amazing how many plans and options this place gives to visitors: temples, shops and markets, a stroll along the river, and even cooking classes, not to mention taking a cocktail at sunset on the penthouses in the city skyscrapers.

If you’re into temples, remember to cover your shoulders and legs with a sarong. The highlights of Bangkok would be:

Wat Arun, the “Temple of Dawn “, is located along the Chao Phraya River, opposite the Grand Palace and noted for its phrang centers (one Khmer -style tower) and a height of 77 meters .

Wat Phra Kaew and Royal Palace, a palace consists of various temples that create a city within the city. The “crown jewel” is the Emerald Temple which houses the Emerald Buddha.

Wat Suthat, more authentic and less touristy. Of the most charming, where you can enjoy the delicate Buddhist rituals .

Wat Pho,(2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District)with the famous Reclining Buddha of 46 meters long, it is spectacular by its size and brightness of its golden cover. The tour costs about 100 Baths and is located a few meters from the Royal Palace.

If you prefer markets, floating markets are the typical image of the city. You have different options and alternatives, here you have the three most important :

Damnoen Saduak, the most famous, is in the Chao Phraya River delta. Open every day, there you can buy everything: fruits, vegetables , souvenirs, eat in restaurants … laid- being the most known and crowded, it is advisable to visit early in the morning

Taling Chan is the closest to the city ( is 15 kms . from Bangkok) and, nevertheless, the most authentic and unknown. You will find between the floating stalls: temples, stilt houses and bridges over canals. Open only on Saturdays and Sundays, it is very cheap to eat there. Highly recommended as the “less commercial” market: you will see that in the local area who purchase live in the same positions and eat in restaurants floating market .

Amphawa, open the weekend and less frequented by tourists. It has one of the best gastronomic offers and has the added attraction of being able to dine admiring the light of thousands of fireflies flying over the river Naam Chin Pha.

And if you’re into shopping, in Bangkok you get from big malls to entire streets of markets where you make all kinds of bargains and counterfeiting. There is no single area where buy everything together and even can find stores where prices are much higher than in Spain (cosmetics stores, or even Zara !). You can haggle, but Thais do not like as much practice as in other countries, so do not abuse too much or do it in larger shops or food stalls, best in the stalls and to always be smiling.

There are markets for tourists as Patpong , Nana or MBK to buy items of lesser value or fakes. And if you’re looking for souvenirs or kitchenware, you have the outdoor market Chatuchakopened on weekends.

To purchase electronic goods at reasonable prices, Fortune: near the subway station Rama IX

To buy clothes, Central Rama 9 , MBK and Terminal 21 are the main shopping centers.

And finally, you can walk around the shops and stalls of Chinatown

The next stage of the journey through the HISTORICAL CENTER OF THAILAND and NORTH HILLS :

AYUTTHAYA, 85 kms. away from Bangkok , the ruins of the ancient city now form the Ayutthaya historical park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1991 It is a very interesting excursion from Bangkok due to its proximity (from Skytrain Station and Victory Monument BTS from Century the Movie Plaza Shopping Center vans leave every 20 minutes bound for Ayutthaya by about 100 bath € -2.5 ). Once there, you can visit the park by bicycle ( 40 bath) , motorbike (200 bath – about 5 € ) or even tuk – tuk ( 200-300 bath time ). There are also more organized trips with cruise back where they will pick you up at the hotel after visiting the ruins, they bring you back in a nice cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

SUKKOTHAI is further away from the capital (about 450 kms . north of Bangkok and 300 kms . south of Chiang Mai) . Also its historic town was declared a World Heritage Site in 1991 and its archaeological remains are gathered at the Historical Park. In it you can admire ancient Buddha figures, palaces and temples walk or bike, both inside and outside its walls. The area is stunning, but its distant location to major cities makes it a less known place that visited Ayutthaya.

CHIANG RAI is the northernmost province of Thailand and the place where you will see the famous Golden Triangle, where converge the boundaries of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

In Chiang Rai you can stroll through the night bazaar and eat at the Food Court, visit the White Temple and the Black House, try the most famous dish of the city: the Khao Soi(or soup spicy noodles ), or climb Mount Doi Tung . Ah! And see the famous Clock Tower.

CHIANG MAI has over 300 Buddhist temples and is a popular tourist destination for the many attractions offered to visitors:

There are crossings on foot or on elephant for its mountains and forests that meet native tribes

The Elephant Nature Park is located 60 kms. north of the city. The elephant is the national icon, highly revered and respected by Thais.

The Doi Inthanon National Park is home to the highest mountain in Thailand

In town, visit the old town and the Temple ( Wat ) Phra Singh and hippies and craft markets (Sunday Walking Street on Sunday , Warorot in the corner of a street Thanon Chiang Mai Thanon Witchayanon )

In addition , Chiang Mai hosts many Thai festivals such as the Flower Festival (first weekend of February), or Loi Katrong (full moon night of November are released into the air where the hot air lanterns ” escape of Troubles”: you can see this beautiful scene in the image that opens this post)

And finally , let’s talk about BEACHES and ISLANDS … the Andaman Sea coast of southern Thailand and hidden tropical paradise of white sand and crystalline waters that would be unforgivable to miss on our trip.

PHUKET is one of the largest and most diverse islands. Located in the Andaman Sea, combines beaches, big cities , forests and mountains. Even a curious mix of Thai, Chinese and Muslim traditions. You can reach it by taking a domestic flight from Bangkok.

In the south west coast of the island you will find the most popular beaches (Kata , Kuta , Patong, Nai Harn) , while the north is quieter.

From Phuket Town harbor, there are cruise boats and ferries to Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay (with “James Bond Island”), which for me enclose the most beautiful landscapes and beaches I know. I would therefore like to dwell a little more in this area :

Phi Phi Islands: they are a group of 4 islands, among which Phi Phi Don(most of them and the only inhabited) and Phi Phi Lee (an island that was untouched until 2003 and famous for being the setting where the film was shot “The Beach ” by Leonardo di Caprio or the ” Cutthroat island “). Believe me when I say that Maya Bay is one of the most impressive and beautiful havens I’ve seen in my life, and my favorite beach so far:

Phang Nga Bay: it’s main attraction is the island Ko Tapu, one of the most recurrent in tourist brochures and star in the movie “The Man with the Golden Gun “. You can also get there by boat from the port of Phuket Town .

SIMILAN ISLANDS are other group of islands of the Andaman Sea, a National Park consists of nine islands located 60 kms. from City Phang Nga. Koh Similan is the largest and has spectacular rock formations and coral reef island. The Similan National Parkis known for its diving spots , princpales having two types of diving: the east coast with gently sloping coral reefs and sand interspersed, and the West Coast with huge granite boulders under water. If you like diving or snorkeling, this is your place !

KRABI is characterized by its natural beauty, unfortunately damaged by the Tsunami in 2004. Full of jungles , limestone cliffs and breathtaking islands, teo spawn many alternatives: diving, climbing, altars and even the famous Tiger’s Cove. Also from Krabi and boats leave daily excursions to visit Koh Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. If you stay in Aonang you’ll find bars and animated by the evening terraces, while Klong Muang Beach and Tubkaakare quieter. You will be able to do kayaking in the bay of Ao Thalane, forest nicest and largest mangrove Thailand (20 kms . of Krabi)

In the Gulf of Thailand , KOH SAMUI, KOH TAO and KOH PAGNAN islands are a must.

KOH SAMUI, with its 200m2, it is the third largest island in Thailand and has an airport that receives daily flights from Bangkok ( http://www.bangkokair.com ) . Chaweng , Lamai and Bo Phut are its main beaches and Silver Beach , smaller, is one of the most beautiful. In Koh Samui , plus give you a massage on the shore of the beach, relax and unwind, you will see the “Big Buddha ” at Wat Phra Yai, in the north end of the island or Temple Hua Jookhaving a pagoda with breathtaking views of the island. And finally, visit the Na Muang waterfalls, two beautiful waterfalls located next to each other of 18 and 80 meters. You ‘ll feel right in the middle of a fairy tale!

KOH PAGNAN is famous for its Full Moon Party, each full moon takes place in Haad Rin Beach. The party starts when the moon appears and the beach becomes a dance floor with all kinds of music (techno, reggae, trance, drum & bass), jugglers and fire shows artficiales. In addition to the Full Moon Party, you can visit the Ang Thong Marine Park, a nature reserve consists of 42 islands where diving, take Thai cooking classes or yoga classes.

KOH TAO, the smallest island, is famous among divers for its clear waters and for being an important breeding area of green and hawksbill turtles. You can reach here from Koh Samui or Koh Pagnan by sea.

As you see, many plans and possibilities. DECORATION and THAI KITCHEN are both awesome! And still to mention two areas we lack

THAI KITCHEN is full of flavors and is noted for the freshness of its ingredients and spices. Thais are passionate about their food and their conversations often take this as a central theme. With some influence from China, India and Myanmar, it has its own distinct personality. Curries, chillies, use coconut … masterfully combine different tastes (salty, spicy, sweet, bitter …), textures and colors, resulting in spectacular presentations and dishes full of sensations. If you are someone who can not tolerate spicy (common in Thai cuisine), the expression “Mai Phet”(not too spicy) is your ally. Do not forget to try Khao Tom(rice soup), sauces such as Nam Pla or Nam Prik (fish and shrimp, very spicy), or the famous Tom Yam (soup feature meat, pesaco or prawns accompanied by chili, lemongrass , citrus and lime juice) leaves. All this, of course, always accompanied by a bowl of rice and a local beer or Singha and Chang. And for dessert, Kanom (a sweet cake). Curiously, the famous Jok Moo, or puree flakes and rice with pork is Thai cure hangovers and can be found in a small stall opposite the restaurant Swenson’s (very close to Khao San Road, in Bangkok)

Where to eat?

The best Thai food can be enjoyed on any street stand in floating markets or night markets, at prices of laughter. Apart from the usual mention that in Thailand is very common to eat all kinds of insects as ” snack” . If you are daring , you can taste them easily on the street.

In BANGKOK,

Chinatownoffers interesting alternatives both street and restaurants: Nai Mong Hoi Nang Tort is known for its oyster omelet, Kao Raan Dtom Plaeng Naam is a small place with a cooktop and tables with stools facing the street wheres customers choose the ingredients to set your dish and prepare it directly on the grill.

In CHIANG MAI,

The cuisine of northern Thailand is slightly different and cheaper. It highlighted by the Khao Soi , a curry with coconut milk, fried noodles and other ingredients. You can taste it in Kao Soi Nimman(Nimman street, 7). You can also make delicious grilled chicken in Kai Yang Chen Doy(Kasame Suk Road)

Koh Samui specialty is seafood and fish. At Ko Kaen, you can find seafood and Thai food at a great price .

In KRABI,

Chalita Café & Restaurant, quality food, affordable prices and good atmosphere with music. You can not ask for more!

THAI STYLE in decoration is present everywhere: restaurants, houses, shops … but the best is expressed and is manifested in large hotels and hotel chains. These are for me the most spectacular and beautiful :

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle(Chiang Saen Post Office, Chiang Rai,http://www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle). It is just spectacular ! It is in the middle of the Thai jungle and offers elephant treks to its guests … only for the privileged!

Do not panic ! After dreaming a bit, I must say that Thailand offers great accommodations to more than affordable prices, these are good , nice and cheap hotels where you can stay without breaking a fortune :

PHUKET:Sawasdee Village in Kata, http://www.phuketsawasdee.com, 90€ the double room in a peace oasis, where you can enjoy its excellent restaurant (I do recommend the fresh snapper with lemongrass, delicious!)

KOH PHI PHI: Phi Phi The Beach Resort, http://www.phiphithebeach.com, It costs 85 € the night but in return you will stay in a very nice beach asylee in wood bungalows in the mountains overlooking the sea. Certainly there are cheaper options on the island, but even a book nights in Phi Phi Don in this hotel, the place is really worth it !

Here are some sites where you will be able to take something and go out:

BANGKOK:

Sky Bar at Lebua at State Tower Hotel, there are no words to describe the breathtaking views from the hotel roof . While dining at the restaurant Sirocco is too expensive for what it offers ( especially knowing that the road can dine in the stalls excellent dishes for less than 1 € !), it is highly recommended to have a drink at the Skybar .

PHUKET:

Besides Simon Cabaret (for those who like to see the most famous drag show on the island) , you can have a drink in the Art Space Gallery and Music Bar, in Ketwan Road (Kata)

In Bangla Road, Patong, there many bars and pubs and much of the nightlife of Phuket focus

CHIANG RAI:

You can have some beers outdoors in the Night Bazaar or visit the Lamyai Bar(Jet Rod Road 50, just 50 meters from the Clock Tower )

CHIANG MAI:

Nimmanheimin Road is the party place in Chiang Mai, it will find the Monkey Club with live music and drinks at good prices.

KOH SAMUI:

The Giant Summit, to enjoy nice views of the island:

Ark Bar, a very nice place to have a drink in the evening with good music and good vibes ! ; )

Sun Flower Beach Bar, at Loh Dalum Bay right on the beach , to drink something relaxed in hammocks and watch the sunset at sea.

And we end up, as always, with recommendations about what to pack in your suitcase. In Thailand it is always hot, the weather is very humid and tropical. It is advisable to wear light clothes and some clothes to protect us from rain. In addition, and in order to visit the temples, a pareo or sarong is essential in luggage. Consider the time when traveling, we can distinguish three major “seasons”: from May to October is the rainy season or monsoon, from November to February is the fresh season (is the best time to visit the country) and from March to May it is the hottest season .

Here some looks to wander around Bangkok, visit the Midwest or stroll along the beaches of Krabi or Koh Samui … I hope you like them!

I loved re-live this incredible journey with you, Trippers! I hope you enjoyed as much as I of this amazing place.